What We Study

NIEHS intramural scientists have defined descriptive terms of particular relevance to their own research, and have ranked those terms accordingly. This search feature obtains best-matches with the terms you choose, and shows an overall score based on the scientific rankings.

Research

NIEHS research uses state-of-the-art science and technology to investigate the interplay between environmental exposures, human biology, genetics, and common diseases to help prevent disease and improve human health.

Environmental Stewardship

Research Highlights

The vision of the NIEHS is to use environmental health sciences to understand human disease and improve human health. Use the search box to see research highlights from NIEHS scientists since its founding in 1966.

About NIEHS

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is expanding and accelerating its contributions to scientific knowledge of human health and the environment, and to the health and well-being of people everywhere.

Partnerships for Environmental Public Health (PEPH)

Chemicals in Personal Care Products

The average American woman uses 12 personal care products a day and men average six products daily. But have you ever read the list of ingredients on your soap, toothpaste, hair products, or cosmetics? This podcast takes a look at some common chemicals found in personal care products and highlights new research about how they might affect our health. Plus, we discuss tips to limit exposure and find safer product alternatives.

Experts

Kyla Taylor is a health scientist in the National Toxicology Program at NIEHS. She works on the NIEHS Sister Study to research exposure patterns of personal care product use and the association with breast cancer and associated risk factors. Taylor earned her M.S. in Population Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As a student she worked as a research assistant at the Population Health Institute and was first author of the annual Wisconsin County Health Rankings in 2008 and a co-author in 2007. Taylor is currently a Ph.D. student in Epidemiology at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Ruthann Rudel is director of research at Silent Spring Institute, a community based breast cancer research organization funded in part by NIEHS. In this role, she directs exposure and toxicology research programs focusing on endocrine active chemicals and on mechanisms by which chemicals may influence breast cancer risk. She leads Silent Spring Institute’s Household Exposure Study, a comprehensive analysis of in home exposures. Major contributions of the study include identifying previously unrecognized sources of ongoing PCB exposures in homes and the discovery that PBDE exposures are higher in California due to unique furniture flammability standards. She has an appointment as a Research Associate in the Brown University Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and has served on the U.S. National Toxicology Program Board of Scientific Counselors and the Regulatory Affairs and Legislative Assistance Committee of the Society of Toxicology. She earned her M.S. in environmental management and policy from Tufts University.

The HERMOSA Study Read about the HERMOSA Study, a community-based study to investigate and reduce exposure to chemicals in personal care products in a population of teenage girls. Or, see the HERMOSA Educational Materials to find safer alternatives to the cosmetic products you use.

The Sister Study Learn about this NIEHS study that involves more than 50,000 women to investigate the causes of breast cancer.

Endocrine Disruptors Learn more about endocrine disruptors and what NIEHS is doing to understand how these chemicals affect health.